Actually, you can still be referred for $25
 

The main difference is that ING now requires a $250 deposit by the new customer, in order to receive the $25. (Only the referrals created before mid-October were grandfathered in with the "no minimum deposit.")

Still, that's a 10% return rate just for opening an account.

I have referrals and you can still find them on the web as well.

The nice bit about being with ING is that you can create laddering accounts very simply. Let's say you opened one account with $250 and then got the $25 bonus. You could then open 5 additional accounts with no minimum, and start saving a different amount in each of them, even if you only want to start with $1 or $2. One could be for Christmas, the other could be for car repairs or a vacation fund, you get the picture. The no minimum CDs are great too.

It also makes it very easy to start a small savings account for a child. I believe you can even send an opening bonus or gift (it wouldn't apply to the $250/$25 bonus deal, but it might encourage a younger person to start saving money).

They also have this deal for tivo owners. http://www.ingdirect.com/tivo For $25

But Better to use a friend's link and have them get money also.

Code is tivo1

Semi-Elite, I actually wanted to reply to your signature, but it didn't come through. Apologies for derailing the thread a bit. OT/ RE.: good banks in Australia: have you tried St. George? We've been banking there for 3 years now and are reasonably satisfied with it.
As for good pizza, well, the only place where you can find really good pizza is Italy, of course... ;)

Capital One
 

I am currently an ING USA customer, but came across Captial One's 4% high yield savings account when paying my credit card (used for foreign transactions) with no foreign currency fee. Looks like Capital One slightly beats the ING rate.

Some info:
No fees to open or maintain your account
No minimum balance
Links to your existing checking account
FDIC insured for up to $100,000 per depositor
Convenient online account access

http://www.capitalone.com/savings/hy...h5o4A5SLdaMxOu

Be sure to read the fine print about all of the requirements and charges.

FYI: ING just raised the rate on new deposits to 4.75% until 4/15/06.

Thanks for the tip!

HSBC Direct reportedly has a $25 signup bonus going, using the promo code "25pig":

www.hsbcdirect.com/start

The code expires 2/28, from what I've read.

Mike

Watch out, HSBC's customer service is horrendous.

Outsourced, happens to be to India.

'Nuff said.

I may give this a shot. Nako, if you have a referral link or get a bonus, feel free to PM me.

Mike

I haven't signed up, so I don't get anything out of it. (I don't recall reading that they have a referral program, either.)

Mike

Yes, they are - the FDIC logo appears on the hsbcdirect.com page. It is linked to their FDIC certificate, which can be viewed here.

(And as a side point, HSBC is one of the largest banking companies in the world, though their presence in the US has been somewhat limited until recently.)

Mike

Just remember it is only 4.75 on new deposits, sure wish they made it 4.75 for everything that would make them conpetitive again.

Yes, but it's new deposits minus withdrawals during the promo statement cycles that will actually earn interest at 4.75 rate.

might be the 3rd biggest bank in the world but hsbc direct is not affiliated in anyway with hsbc holdings in case of default. Beware not to go over FDIC limits as regardless of affiliation they fund the banks separately and use completely separate financial statements in determining solvency. In fact, HSBC direct is most likely (like most high yield savings accts) funded with sub bank debt which is junior to debt and preferred stock, in some cases the debt is subordinate to common stock too. Regardless, your long US treasury debt so long u dont go over FDIC limits. they can easily default w/o even affecting HSBC holdings ratings debt which i think is AA-/Aa3 by S&P/Mdys.

Just noticed that ING's rate just went up to 4.15% and HSBC's is at 4.50%. I've also noticed that the Amex High-Yield Savings Account rate usually matches ING, so let's see if that goes up soon.

I signed up and and the $25 bonus posted right away.. being able to link more than one (up to three) checking is very nice, too. So far so good, for me. Let me know if anyone would like a referral for bonus. ;)

In general, given the number of online banks offering high yield savings today, there seems in my eyes to be no reason for anyone to EVER need to exceed the FDIC limits at ANY bank.

250k
 

There is current legislation under review to up the FDIC insured limit to 250K from 100K

not sure when, if that will pass and then how long to take effect.

don't like having to keep opening accounts,

Well, for IRAs, 401(k)s and certain other retirement accounts, the limit is ALREADY $250K as of 4/1/06.

Cite:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/bu...71&format=text

I hadn't heard about the proposal to increase the limit for other types of accounts.

Metlife bank 4.25%
 

i got a letter from MetLife bank where i have a high-yield savings account with saying:
"Effective September 28,2006, the fee for the following services will be: Domestic Wire $25..."

Obviously makes the account pointless if they start charging such high ACH transfer fees...

On another note countrywide bank savingslink account has a 5.25% APY ($50k+) ^ ^

I belive Domestic Wire applies to a wire that gets your money to another bank in about 2 hours via the Federal Reserve Bank. This is not the slower ACH system. But ask the bank to be sure, if you are concerned about this.

You can get a short term CD for 5.00% and better if you go through a brokerage firm.

90 posts in less than 24 hours. You shooting for OMNI or Coupon Connection? :rolleyes:

Mike

CD's
 

So, for anyone looking for CD's you should be able to do about 5.25% or a bit more on a 6-12 month CD. I do some rolling CD's for this use.

But, I would wait a few days till the fed raises rates, then you should be able to get 5.5% in the market.

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/52/437553/

this tracks the best rates for MM's and savings accts

I was using Emigrant direct as well, but I have not been happy with their customer service or website.

HSBCdirect has been aggressive raising their rates and are now at 5.05. I am going to try them for a while since they give ATM access, which might be worth it for me.

Too bad no sign up deals, though!

fuzz

I have HSBC,Emigrant,Citibank and ING, majority of my savings now is in HSBC who just raised their rate again after Citibank raised theirs! :)

HSBCdirect is now offering a $25 gift card to BestBuy for new accounts. I waited until the right time :)

Not a bad deal, but i had a better when i joined ($35 bonus for joining) :)

I saw that before...but laziness hit me (didn't feel like moving money around from bank account to bank account) and now i guess I gotta sacrifice 10 bucks ;) I just couldn't pass up such a huge difference in interest rates. what's ING thinking.....

What do you think of the line in the terms on this page: http://www.hsbcdirect.com/1/2/bestbuy

"Must be a Best Buy cardholder to qualify for gift card offer."

Has anyone not a best buy credit card customer gotten the gift card?

Hmmm..did not notice that line. kinda shady....luckily I have a credit card with Best Buy..but really why does it matter to HSBC?

My mom doesn't have a BB credit card so we'll see if she receives anything.

HSBC and Best Buy
 

Besy Buy's credit card is thru HSBC, which may be part of the reason why they are requiring a Best Buy credit card.

HSBC's website is not user-friendly at all. I feel very disappointed. Maybe I'm spoiled by the nice look of ING direct. But HSBC's website is just junky looking and on top of that they tried to withdraw the money from my account before it was even in there. (I scheduled a withdrawal to be taken out in about a week). Now I have an NSF fee..which I am counting on HSBC to give me back. The extra interest really doesn't seem worth the hassle....

$25 Promo and $10 Referral bonus
 

ING has a promo on now where if you are referred by a current member you recieve $25 for opening an account with a minimum of $250 and the referrer get $10. Easy to open the acct and the interest rate is 4.50% currently. There are banks offering higher interest rates, but for this small deposit and the $25 promo this is hard to beat.
4.5% APY + $10 referrer bonus = 8.5% APY effectively (on $250 deposit).
4.5% APY + $25 referred bonus (on a $250 initial deposit) = 14.5% APY effectively!
I've had an account with ING for quite a while and have been very satisfied with it.
No fees, funding is through linking your account to your existing bank (up to 3 accounts). You will see the $25 in your account in about 30 days so you need to leave the account open until then. It takes a $1 balance to leave the account open.
4.5% APY + $10 referrer bonus = 8.5% APY effectively (on $250 deposit).
4.5% APY + $25 referred bonus (on a $250 initial deposit) = 14.5% APY effectively!

I would happily refer you if you would like to join. Please PM me your First and Last Name and email address and then you will get an email with the link to join. One referral per email address. There is a limit of 25 referrals per member so others may wish to list their availability to refer as well. I joined by being referred by another Flyer Talker and appreciated it. I did a cursory search for other promos for ING and did not find any.

Frenchie Flyer

ING is also offering 12 mo. CDs at 5.10%...not the highest, but not too bad, and I've been exceptionally happy with their customer service. Jean